Connecter



July 30, 1935. F. J. HARDMAN 2,009,885

CONNECTER Fild Feb. 2, 1951 Patented July 30, 1935 PATENT OFFICE CONNECTER Frederick J. Hardman, Dayton, Ohio, asslgnor, by mesne assignments, to General Motors Corporation, Delaware Application; February 2,

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of electrical connectors, such as are used in the wiring of an automobile.

In automobile wiring where the electrical connecters are protected by flexible metal tubing, and

terminating short of the bared ends of the connecter, it had been the practice to fix the ends of the armor to the insulation by the use of tape to eliminate endwise movement of the tubing so as not to cause a. short circuit.

An object of the present invention is to avoid the use of tape by using metallic ferrules which fit snugly about the insulation of the connecters and receive the end of the metallic tubing so as to provide an article of a neat appearance as well as utility.

Another object of the present invention is to secure the flexible tubing to theinsulation of the connecter at a minimum expense and which will provide an efficient form of anchoring to eliminate endwise movement of the tubing.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of the connecter illustrating the assembly of parts before being anchored.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing one form of staking which may be used with the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, an insulated conductor 20 is provided with ends 2|, only one end being shown, which is secured to a terminal clip 22-. The securing of the conductor end 2i to the terminal clip 22 may be made in any well known manner. The conductor 20 is incased in a flexible tubing or sheath 23, which will be referred to as armor. This armor 23 is made by interlocking the edges of helical strips of sheet metal, although it will be understood that other forms of flexible tubing may be used. A piece of armor 23 is slipped over the terminal 22 secured to the conductor 20 and placed around the insulating surface of the conductor 20, the ends of the armor terminating a short distance from the ends of the conductor. A metal ferrule or cup-shaped end member 24 is provided at each end of the armor. The ferrule 24 is provided with an in- Detroit, Mich., a corporation of 1931, Serial No. 512,875

terminal clip 22 and snugly fitting about the insulated portion of the conductor 20 said flange 25 providing a stop which engages the irregular end of the armor. The ferrule 24 has a cylindrical wall or band 26 which encloses the irregular end of the armor thereby forming a neat appearing article. 7

When each ferrule 24 has been assembled with the armor 23 and the conductor 20 as shown in Fig. 1, the assembled parts are placed beneath or between suitable die members 21 and 28. The die members 21 and 28 are provided with recesses 29 and 30, respectively, to receive the ferrule 24. The die member 28 is provided with a pointed instrument 3| which is yieldingly secured therein in any suitable manner. Suitable power means are provided to bring one of the die members toward the other to firmly hold the ferrule 24 within the recesses 28 and 30 of the dies 21 and 28, respectively, before the pointed instrument 3| pierces the band 26, as at 32, thus securing the ferrule or end member 24 to the armor 23. Continued movement of the pointed instrument 3| will force a portion of the armor 23 into the insulation of the conductor 20 to form an indent 33, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in order to connect the armor and the insulation. The indent 33 will prevent relative endwise movement of the armor along the insulated portions of the conductor 20. The piercing operations may be of any desired number. It will be obvious that by thus deforming the ferrule 24 and the armor 23 and providing them with a number of indentations, the ferrule and the armor will be firmly interlocked with each other and the armor and the insulation will be firmly held against rotary and endwise movement thereof. The ferrule not only anchors the ends of the armor, but encloses the irregular ends of the armor and thereby provides an article with a pleasing appearance and utility.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An insulated conductor comprising in combination; bared ends adapted to be attached to terminal members and having its insulated portions surrounded by a flexible armor terminating short of a bared end of the conductor; a cup shaped member for receiving an end of the armor and fitting against the insulation and the armor; means for anchoring the cup-shaped member to the armor; and means in alignment 2 aooaaes with the first mentioned means for engaging the armor with the insulation to prevent endwise and rotary movement of the assembled members relative to each other.

5 2. An insulated conductor comprising in com bination; bared ends adapted to be attached to terminal members and having its insulated portions surrounded by a flexible armor terminating short of a bared end of the conductor; a cupshaped member for receiving an end of the armor and fitting against the insulation and the armor; deformations formed on the cup-shaped member to lock said member to the armor; and deforma-- tions formed on the armor in alignment with the deformations on the cup shaped member to anchor the armor to the insulation, said deformations of the cup-shaped member and the armor cooperating with each other to prevent endwise and rotary movement of the assembled members relative to each other.

3. An insulated conductor, comprising in combination; a length of insulated wire; a flexible armor incasing a portion of said wire; a ferrule for receiving the end of the armor; means comprising indentations on the ferrule for locking the armor to the ferrule; and means comprising indentations on the armor and located adjacent the first mentioned means to indent the insulation of the wire to prevent endwise and rotary movement of the armor relative to the insulated wire.

aligned with the first mentioned notch for piercing the insulation of the conductor to prevent endwise and rotary movement of said armor relative to said conductor.

5. An insulated conductor, comprising in combination; a soft flexible armor incasinga portion of said conductor; a soft metallic cup-shaped ferrule mounted on said conductor, said ferrule adapted to embrace an end of said armor; means formed on the ferrule for securing said ferrule to the armor to prevent endwise and rotary movement of said ferrule with respect to said armor; and means on said armor and in alignment with the first mentioned means for securing said armor to said conductor to prevent endwise and rotary movement of said armor relative to said con ductor.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination comprising; an insulated conductor, a metallic cup-shaped member mounted on said conductor, said member being disposed for receiving an end of a flexible armor incasing a portion of said conductor, the cylindrical portions of said cup-shaped member being deformed to interlock said member with the armor preventing endwise and rotary movement of said member relative to said armor; and said armor being indented into the cable coaxial with the deformations on said cup-shaped member to pre= vent endwise and rotary movement of the armor relative to the conductor.

7. An insulated conductor comprising in combination; bared ends adapted to be attached to terminal members and having its insulated portions surrounded by a flexible armor terminating short of a bare'd end of the conductor; a .cupshaped member for receiving an end of the armor and fitting against the insulation and the armor; means comprising deformed portions of the cupshaped member for anchoring the cup-shaped member to the armor; and means comprising deformed portions of the armor and in substantial alignment with the first mentioned deformed portions for engaging the armor with the insulation to prevent endwise and rotary movement ofthe assembled members relative to each other.

8. An insulated conductor, comprising in combination; a soft flexible armor incasing a portion of the conductor, a soft metallic cup-shaped ferrule mounted on the conductor, said ferrule adapted to embrace an end of the armor; means comprising deformed portions of the ferrule for securing the ferrule to the armor to prevent endwise and rotary movement of the ferrule with respect to the armor; and means comprising deformed portions of the armor and in alignment with the first mentioned deformed portions for securing the armor to the conductor to prevent endwise and rotary movement of the armor relative to the conductor.

9. An armored electrical connection, comprising, in combination; an insulated conductor wire; an armor tube surrounding the wire; and a ferrule member for receiving an end of the armor and fitting around the insulation of the wire, said ferrule being deformed to lock the ferrule to the armor, and said armor having a. deformation in alignment with the deformation on the ferrule to anchor the armor to the insulation, said deformations of the ferrule and armor cooperating to prevent relative endwise and rotary movement of the assembled members.

FREDERICK J. HARDMAN. 

